The league features AWS DeepRacer, a 1/18th scale radio-controlled, self-driving four-wheel race car designed to help developers learn about reinforcement learning, a type of machine learning feature found in Amazon SageMaker. It features an Intel Atom processor; a 4-megapixel camera with 1080p resolution; multiple USB ports; and a 2-hour battery.

“Reinforcement Learning is one of the technologies that are used to make self-driving cars a reality; the AWS DeepRacer is the perfect vehicle (so to speak) for you to go hands-on and learn all about it,” Amazon wrote in a blog post. “We’re ramping up volume production and you will be able to buy one of your very own very soon.”

Developers will be able to race their cars against others on a physical track at events around the world. Amazon will host the AWS DeepRacer Grand Final and award the AWS DeepRacer Championship Cup at next year’s re:invent conference.

DeepRacer costs $399 but pre-orders are available now for $249 on Amazon. The car will be released this March.

Taylor Soper is GeekWire's managing editor, responsible for coordinating the newsroom, planning coverage, and editing stories. A native of Portland, Ore., and graduate of the University of Washington, he was previously a GeekWire staff reporter, covering beats including startups and sports technology. Follow him @taylor_soper and email taylor@geekwire.com.